It began in Prague, Czech Republic, when the Coyotes were determined to prove that last season's run to the playoffs was not a fluke. It continued as they had to overcome a series of injuries. It ended Saturday night in San Jose in a playoff primer when they wanted to show they could go toe-to-toe against the Sharks on their home ice.

Now they have to prove they can bounce back with a vengeance from a 3-1 loss that prevented them from clinching fourth place in the Western Conference.

But even though they did not get the result they wanted at the HP Pavilion in front of a sellout crowd of 17,563, the Coyotes exhibited the toughness and chippiness they will need in the postseason.

And no doubt the Coyotes will need that tough demeanor: They finished sixth in the Western Conference, and their first-round opponent will be the No. 3 Red Wings, who defeated them in seven games in an opening playoff series a season ago.

If the Coyotes had managed to eke out a point, they would have finished fourth, gaining home-ice advantage for Round 1.

"I thought we worked hard," coach Dave Tippett said. "We had some opportunities, we didn't capitalize on them. They capitalized on a couple of power-play chances, that was the difference in the game.

"We battled hard, we just couldn't find the puck around the net that we needed."

The Sharks, who finished second in the West, dropped a 4-3 decision to the Coyotes on Friday night in Phoenix, but won five of the six matchups this season.

The resolve and grittiness exhibited by the Coyotes showed the Sharks that if they do meet in the first round, it will be a fierce battles.

"We knew there was a lot at stake," Tippett said. "We had a chance to get home ice; it didn't come to be, so our fate will be decided (Sunday)."

The Coyotes opened the third period down two goals but with 1:45 remaining on their fourth power play of the game. Again, they could not capitalize against goaltender Antti Niemi, who ended with 35 saves.

Lauri Korpikoski's 19th goal of the season, unassisted with 9:43 remaining, pulled the Coyotes to within 2-1 .

A goal by Logan Couture on a four-on-three power play with 1:31 remaining, ended the Coyotes' comeback hopes. The rookie Couture notched his 32nd of the season, knocking in his own rebound after his first shot bounced off the leg of Keith Yandle.

The teams exhibited no good will toward each other, and the first period ended in a nasty fashion with Martin Hanzal and the Sharks' Joe Thornton slapped with unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties, and the second began four-on-four.

The Coyotes' defense was challenged for several minutes after that by the high-powered Sharks offense, and San Jose broke through with 12:49 left in the period on a goal by Ian White from the blue line.

The Coyotes came close to tying the game late in the period, but the net moved before the puck crossed the line.

A roughing penalty on Hanzal shortly after that burned the Coyotes as Joe Pavelski scored his 20th goal of the season at the 18:37 mark to give the Sharks as 2-0 lead.

The Coyotes were strong offensively early, taking the game's first six shots but could not covert on a power play. The Sharks' first shot came with 7:36 elapsed, and their second attempt rattled off the post.

With 7:14 remaining in the first, the Sharks' vaunted power play went on the prowl after a boarding call against Michal Rozsival. With 35 seconds left in that, it went to four-on-four after a cross-checking call on the Sharks' Joe Thornton. But in their remaining time, the Coyotes were foiled again.

Byrzgalov had to weather some frantic Sharks' rushes, and he made the critical stops in the first 20 minutes.

Coyotes report

Key player: Sharks goalie Antti Niemi bounced back from a Friday night loss to frustrate the Coyotes, making 35 saves.

Key moment: A late penalty on Ed Jovanovski put the Sharks in a four-on-three, and they scored to put the game out of reach.

Key number: 1. Point the Coyotes could not muster to nab the fourth spot in the Western Conference.

View from the press box

The Coyotes, who became the last team in the NHL to produce a 20-goal scorer when Shane Doan hit that number Friday night, can make a deep playoff run without a high-powered offensive machine. Coach Dave Tippett: "Would we like a 50-goal scorer, a 40-goal scorer? Sure. But that's not who we are. I like a lot of guys that can chip in."